The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Alibabe]

Ash - Your photos didn't show!!!! (And I want to see them ) On the topic of ACV & Oregano Oil (or anything else) in water... Just my 2 Cents worth but I'm at the point that I don't put ANYTHING in the water supply unless I have an alternate waterer that just has plain water in it. Here's my reasoning: I think fresh, plain water is important. Even though some of those other items are good for them (in moderation) I don't want to force them to eat anything on a regular basis unless it's an emergency or you are treating a specific illness/worms, etc. and they have to have something by force. My thoughts at this point are that if these thing are offered FREE CHOICE but not by force (meaning they have no alternative ... in this case, either drink the water that has the stuff in it or you don't get water), they will decide if they need it on their own and take what they need. Especially with items like oregano oil - which is very strong...I, personally would not force that in water that is their only source of water...And if I put it in feed it would only be in very small amount and not every day. ----- I know I've said this before, but I firmly believe that LARGE AMOUNTS of items like cayenne, garlic, oregano, etc. in feed CONTINUOUSLY is not good. It is similar to being on a "cleansing diet" indefinitely. In LARGE AMOUNTS, they are designed to "clean out the system" and keep you from being able to digest certain things in addition to making the digestive hostile to worms, etc. Done long-term (in large amounts) it has the potential to cause malnutrition. By way of explanation: I'm not referring to small amounts of these items, or free-feed of the items on a continual basis. Hope I'm making sense here. And, again, this is just my 2 cents.

Makes sense to me. I have changed my girls water to clean fresh no AVC and will get another waterer that will have ACV in it so they can choose which they want. Preferably I want my girls to get everything from ranging with a top up of protein, calcium etc when they need it - i.e. free choice.

 

[lalaland]

I go through gallons of white vinegar for all kinds of other uses. Including cleaning counter tops and killing weeds. Good stuff.

I was wondering about using white vinegar along the electric fence line that surrounds the run - to make my life easier, lol. Do you dilute it? And, any long term affects on the soil ? meaning, will eventually other stuff grow there or not.

Wonder if I could use it on poison ivy.

chicken related! cause it is about the run

 

[Mumsy]

I was wondering about using white vinegar along the electric fence line that surrounds the run - to make my life easier, lol. Do you dilute it? And, any long term affects on the soil ? meaning, will eventually other stuff grow there or not.

Wonder if I could use it on poison ivy.

chicken related! cause it is about the run

It kills the top growth but not roots that I can see. Some stuff withers up in minutes. Some grasses aren't bothered at all. I use it straight in my sprayer in the pathways in the garden and the outside boarder. Rain and heavy dew will wash it off so I spray the vinegar on calm sunny days. It seems to be most effective on broad leaved weeds. Remember though. It will burn leaves of ornamentals and good plants too. Vinegar is not like salt that will contaminate the soil.

 

[Ashdoes]

Ok, photos...the last chicks were born 6/3 so they're between 1.5 and 2 weeks.
One of my girls..

And a couple boys..one dark and one light

 

[lalaland]

One of my LF layers is a year old now. She has been a consistent layer of large eggs. She will occasionally produce double yolkers. Recently I noticed she takes longer on the nest than she used to. Also, her eggs are more frequently coming out with ridges and odd shapes. Today she produced a whopper with big cracks. The egg must have cracked in the Uterus because they were healed over and the egg is hard.





Phoebe eggs. One hard cracked and one odd shaped with ridges on the tip. The small egg is from a bantam RIR pullet.

Mumsy, sorry to hear that about Phoebe - I've never seen an internally cracked egg before. hopefully those problems won't be passed on.

Hi, Karyn here from SW Austin. We are on 5ac. and have a little (our first!) flock of 9 --- 8 girls and a "surprise" -- Samantha, a Delaware, turned out to be Sam.

they were born the 1st of Feb. and are doing great, in spite of the lack of experience from their "chicken Mama" - me! They free range all day and go into the coop and run my DH built for them at night. My question is this -- we have often left them overnight, and once for a day and night when we had to be gone. Now, in a few weeks we will need to be gone for 3 1/2 days and I am freaking out over leaving them in their coop and run for that long. Do I need to get a sitter? Or try to find someone to let them out in the am and close the door at night? (Expensive --2 trips!) need advice from all you experienced ones, PLEASE!

personally, I'ld want someone to check on them. Stuff happens - waterers get plugged up or tip over, storms , predators, etc. Odds are good they will be just fine, though.

If you are going to leave them on their own, especially in texas heat, I would use back up watering - regardless of your system ( nipples, water floats, plain old bowls, traditional waterers, etc) - that way if the main one isn't available for whatever reason, your flock can still get to water.

If your run is small, and you are worried about them being confined in it, add some extra diversions - could be hay or straw to scatter, a cabbage to pick at, etc. half of a big old watermelon might work too.

kinda like wearing your seat belt - if you forget, most of the time it won't matter. but, if there is an accident, it will matter big time. So, most of the time your chickens will be fine on their own. But, if something happens,...see?


ASHDOES, I want to see the pics too! I'll try to post some of my cream legbars who are at three weeks now. Bouncing off the walls! they are really active

 

[Ashdoes]

Ash - Your photos didn't show!!!! (And I want to see them )

*****************************

On the topic of ACV & Oregano Oil (or anything else) in water...
Just my 2 Cents worth but I'm at the point that I don't put ANYTHING in the water supply unless I have an alternate waterer that just has plain water in it.

Here's my reasoning:
I think fresh, plain water is important. Even though some of those other items are good for them (in moderation) I don't want to force them to eat anything on a regular basis unless it's an emergency or you are treating a specific illness/worms, etc. and they have to have something by force.

My thoughts at this point are that if these things are offered FREE CHOICE but not [COLOR=FF0000]by force (meaning they have no alternative ... in this case, either drink the water that has the stuff in it or you don't get water),[/COLOR] they will decide if they need it on their own and take what they need.

Especially with items like oregano oil - which is very strong...I, personally would not force that in water that is their only source of water...And if I put it in feed it would only be in very small amount and not every day. -----


I know I've said this before, but I firmly believe that LARGE AMOUNTS of items like cayenne, garlic, oregano, etc. in feed CONTINUOUSLY is not good.

It is similar to being on a "cleansing diet" indefinitely. In LARGE AMOUNTS, they are designed to "clean out the system" and keep you from being able to digest certain things in addition to making the digestive hostile to worms, etc.

Done long-term (in large amounts) it has the potential to cause malnutrition.

By way of explanation: I'm not referring to small amounts of these items, or free-feed of the items on a continual basis. Hope I'm making sense here. And, again, this is just my 2 cents.


ETA:  Formatting went wonky for some reason and put everything in one big glob.  Editing to add the formatting back.

Fixed the photos.
And I agree about not constantly making them have additives. I put ACV in the water every three days, but clean and fill the water every day. I do cheyenne once a month or so and same for oregano.

 

[lalaland]

simultaneous posting!

I can see two of the pics now Ashdoes, looks identical to one of mine!

 

[Quailsong]

I have tons of chipmunks and red squirrels. They will tunnel under and into a coop/run to get to the food; making a "highway" for weasels. (I've seen them in my yard.). So...I literally have wrapped my coop/run in 1/2 inch hardware cloth. (I HAVE been accused of over-building before!

) I will only be able to "cheap range" (as opposed to free) so when I am at work or asleep I can be reasonably sure the hens will be safe.

By the wrapping, you mean the floor as well? Wouldn't it just rust within a couple years?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Ash - those are just pretty babies. I was planning on having some chicks by now but I'm having to wait for the gal to hatch. I hope it works out for me to get them still before mid-July!

 

[TexasLisa]

incorrect cooling after the processing. Chickens need to be cooled for 2-3 days before cooking. I cut that time by brining after 12 hours.

New recipe

5 lemons, halved
24 bay leaves
1 bunch rosemary
1 bunch parsley
1 bunch thyme
1 cup honey
1/2 brown sugar
2 heads garlic, halved through the equator
1/4 cup black peppercorns
2 cups kosher salt
2 gallons water
boil and cool completly

place the chickens in a large bucket or cooler covered in ice for 12 hours. Drain off the water and leave any ice, pour the brine on and make sure the chickens are completely covered. Keep them cold in the brine for 12 hours by adding ice in the cooler.
roast or grill

Delisha, regarding your recipe. My husband and I have yet to process our chickens. (We have processed turkeys, but not chickens) Except for the new chicks, the hen are between 3-4 years old. I know at this age they are headed for the crock pot. Would you recommend this brine for them or is it just for young ones?

Lisa